The River (16 page)

"What else?"

"He said to get
you
."
And you're here, aren't you?

"He must have―"

"My people believe that most humans have stopped trusting in the unseen," Hawk cut in. "That's why we're destroying each other and our spiritual world."

Del cocked her head. "So you're saying…to have faith?"

"If we only hear a wolf's howl or a bird's cry but don't see them, are they really there?"

She smiled. "Like the tree falling in the forest analogy."

"Kind of. Just because we don't see something, Del, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Often we can see through our mind's eye better than our human ones."

Jake shifted. "So, what are you suggesting, Hawk?"

"We need to welcome the dark."

Del gasped, darting a look at Jake.

It was difficult enough to fight her phobia of the cave. It would be even harder if she was plunged into pitch-blackness.

"I'll leave this flashlight on," Hawk said. "That way we can see where we're going."

One at a time, the flashlights and headlamps were extinguished, except for the one at the bow of Hawk's canoe. The lone light shimmered over the walls, casting ominous shadows amidst the crystals. Three canoes behind the light, Del could barely see her own hand when she raised it to her face. It was so black inside the cave…and so damned quiet. The only sounds were the water lapping at the canoes and the odd pinging droplet of condensation hitting the river's surface.

Without warning, the canoe scraped the jagged wall.

Del jumped, her nerves shifting into overdrive. The canoe swayed abruptly as Jake moved closer. His hand sought hers and she reached for it, impulsively, comforted by his touch.

But the comfort was short-lived.

The longer they sat there, the more she began to wonder how much fresh oxygen was in the cave. She was sure that they were inhaling every last drop.

Her chest grew tight and her breathing, labored.

Were they slowly being poisoned by carbon monoxide?

Jake squeezed her hand. "How are you doing, Del?"

"Not…too good."

A piece of rock broke away from the wall and dropped into the water with a loud splash.

"Oh God," she moaned. "The walls are caving in."

"No, they're not."

"I have to…get out of here, Jake. I can't…do this!"

I can't breathe.

Suddenly, all she could think of was escaping to fresh air and sunlight. She panicked, twisted in her seat, and then stood abruptly.

"Sit down, Del! Think about something else. A happy memory."

She forced out a bitter laugh. "I haven't had many of those lately."

Jake crawled forward, reached out and cradled the back of her neck. His hand rested there for a moment, then slowly he drew her close―so close that she couldn't pull away.
Even if she wanted to.

"What are you doing?" she hissed.

Strong lips fiercely clamped down on hers, stifling anything else she might have said. His lips moved slowly and she was oblivious to everything except the scintillating fire that burned deep in her belly. His tongue sought out the very depths of her soul, begging her to surrender.

She gave in.

Completely…utterly.

He nuzzled her mouth, eliciting a response. His hands slid through her cropped curls. He finally came up for air, and she entwined her fingers through his hair and drew him back to her eager lips.

She wanted more. She wasn't finished with him…yet.

Suppressing a soft moan, she reminded herself that they were not alone. Somewhere in the dark six people were oblivious to the searing heat she felt as Jake's mouth clamped down on her lips, drawing out the fear and replacing it with desire.

Jake drew away, resting his forehead on hers.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

"Do it again," she whispered.

When his fingers stroked her bare skin, she shuddered. Starving for a taste of him, she returned his kiss with a passion that surprised her. She rested both hands on his chest, just inside his jacket and was stunned to feel the rapid beating of his heart.

Damn.

Del had always suspected that having Jake around would be dangerous. Now, as his mouth ravaged hers, she knew for sure. He had tempted her from the first day she had met him―the carefree, flirtatious banter, the smoldering expression when his eyes feasted on her. Hell, since they had left for the Nahanni he hadn't even bothered to hide his interest.

What was there about him that made her ache? She wanted to crawl inside his skin and stay there, safe and protected. It had been a long, long time since anyone had made her feel safe. Men usually stayed far away once they knew they were dealing with someone who would end up in a wheelchair.

Dead woman walking!

Abruptly she broke away.
"Wait!"

He silenced her quivering lips with a kiss that robbed her of all rational thought. When it turned tender and sweet, an aching need slowly crept up her body, sweeping her away on a tidal wave of yearning.

She longed to strip naked, press skin against―

"Hey! What are you two doing back there?"

Her head shot up at the sound of TJ's voice.

"This ain't the Tunnel of Love," her ex-boyfriend hollered.

"Del was having a panic attack," Jake said smoothly, releasing her hand. "But she's fine now."

Her face burned with humiliation.

Is that the only reason why he kissed me?

Miki's shout made her push thoughts of Jake Kerrigan aside.

"Over there! There's something on the wall."

Del turned, held her breath.

"I don't see anything."

"There!" Miki said impatiently. "By the third tunnel."

Then Del saw it.

A glowing yellow heart.

Hawk moved the flashlight over it.

"It's some kind of phosphorescent paint."

She grinned slowly. "Schroeder said to follow my heart."

As the canoes drifted past the glowing heart, she didn't think about the fact that they were going deeper into the cave. No, this time she had other things to consider. Like, why
did
Jake kiss her?

Her stomach flip-flopped and she chewed her nails in the dark, trying to forget how she had kissed him back―but that was next to impossible. She needed a distraction.

She thought about his ex-wife. "Do you have kids, Jake?"

"Kids? No. What about you?"

There was an awkward moment before she answered.

"I can't have any. I had some complications a few years ago."

"I'm sorry."

He sounded like he wanted to say something more, but then he pressed a bottle into her hands.

"Water. Maybe you should take your pills now."

Del searched her bag in the dark, feeling for the familiar bottle.

"My pills are gone."

"Are you sure?"

"I know what the pill bottle feels like, Jake. They're not here."

"What about your day bag?"

"I checked it earlier. Maybe I dropped them."

"There's another split in the tunnel up ahead!" Hawk yelled.

Del shoved her river bag aside, determined to do without the medication. She focused on the crystal walls and this time it was easier to spot the yellow heart―now that they knew what they were looking for.

Paddling toward the left tunnel, they followed the river down a winding passageway, navigating around a tight, sharp corner with only Hawk's flashlight to guide them.

"Everyone, hold up!" he shouted. "Turn on your lamps!"

Del aimed her headlamp in Hawk's direction and gasped loudly.

Something solid blocked the underground river.

A metal door.

She stared at it, speechless.

The frame of the door was entirely embedded into all sides of the cave. From top to bottom, side to side. The door itself was twice as wide as a regular door and at least twelve feet high.

Hawk gave the door a shove.

Nothing happened.

"Push it up," Jake suggested.

Hawk shoved the door upwards, grunting from the effort.

It didn't budge an inch.

"Uh, Del?" Gary said hesitantly.

She ignored the man and let out a frustrated huff. "Can we swim under it, Hawk?"

"I think it goes straight to the bottom."

"Del!" Gary said forcefully. "You have a…key."

She stopped dead in her tracks. A smile crept across her face and she could have kissed the man.

"Gary, you're a genius!"

"We need you up here, Del," Hawk called. "Can you make it?"

"Damn right!"

With Jake's assistance, she climbed over the side and into TJ's canoe. Crouching low and half-sliding, she carefully made her way past Francesca and Gary. When she reached Hawk and Peter, they clutched her hands and helped her into the canoe.

Miki gave her a brief smile. "Glad you didn't go for a swim."

"Me too."

Hawk held onto the rocks beside the metal door to keep the canoe from drifting away. "Ready?"

"Just give me more light."

With all headlamps aimed on the door, Del carefully scoured every inch of the metal obstruction for a place to insert the key.

"Crap! I can't find the goddamn keyhole."

Hawk ran his hands over the door.

"Del's right. There's no keyhole."

Frustrated, Del glared at the wall.

That's when she saw it.

A smooth bare patch that didn't quite match the rest of the cave.

Her heart began to pound.

"I think I found it. We need to get closer."

A metal panel was embedded in the crystal to the left of the door, and she stretched out a hand. With her index finger, she traced the object that was painted so it would blend with the wall.

An ankh.

The middle of the loop held a smoky glass DNA symbol.

She held her breath, unzipped her jacket and reached for the ankh pendant. Removing the necklace from around her neck, she placed it against the ankh on the wall.

But the door remained locked.

Then she noticed that the horizontal line of the cross was slightly indented, scratched. She pressed the pendant into the line.

She waited.

Suddenly, a tremor raced along the metal door, into the pendant. Without warning, the groove in the ankh opened and yanked the pendant inside. It slid in about an inch, making muted clicking sounds.

"Jesus!"

A bright green light emanated from the DNA strand on both the panel and the pendant. In undulating waves, the light moved up and down the symbol, intensifying each time.

Suddenly, with a loud clanging sound, the door sprung free.

No one said a word.

Mouths gaping, they stared at the open door.

"Bizarre technology," Francesca mumbled.

Del had certainly never seen anything like it.

She stumbled back toward Jake, and if it wasn't for everyone's help she probably would have ended up in the water. Her legs felt wobbly, but this time it was from fear and excitement.

One by one, the canoes drifted through the doorway.

Then Jake let go of the door, and the heavy metal slab swung shut with finality, the sound echoing down the tunnel.

"There's no panel on this side," he said soberly.

She frowned. "So we won't be coming back
this
way."

Jake watched her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable, edgy. He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut firmly.

Something was bothering him.

"What?"

"I'm just thinking that whoever put that door there obviously doesn't want intruders. We could be walking into something very dangerous, Del. And you have nothing for protection."

"I have you."

It was the first thing that popped into her mind.

His eyes locked on hers. "Yes, you have me."

Up ahead, Hawk's flashlight began to flicker.

TJ groaned. "You need new batteries, dawg."

"I put in new batteries this morning…"

Hawk's voice trailed away as his flashlight
and
headlamp died.

Miki and Peter's headlamps went out next.

Del hissed in a strangled breath as, one by one, every light went out, hurtling them into absolute darkness.

"What just happened?"

Her voice was hoarse with fear.

"Must be some kind of electrical interference," Hawk called from the dark. "My GPS is out too."

Francesca whimpered. "We should turn back."

"I have to agree," Peter said. "Maybe we should turn―"

Miki interrupted him. "No. We can't go back that way, remember? We should keep go―"

Hawk made a sharp shushing sound.

"Listen!"

Del couldn't hear a thing―except silence. She strained, listening, holding her breath.

Then she heard it.

A faint droning sound.

"We're at least a mile into the mountains," Jake said. "What could possibly be down here?"

She shivered with anxiety. "Bees?"

"Sounds electrical."

The humming intensified as they floated past a large jutting rock. Ahead, a faint blue glow emanated from the bowels of the tunnel and Del could just make out the shapes of the people in front of her.

"Maybe it's a way out," Gary mumbled.

The canoes drifted on the current. A few yards further the walls closed in and the canoes began bumping and grinding against the rocks.

"We're not moving anymore," Francesca said nervously.

She was right. The canoes were lodged on a shallow underwater ledge.

Del's stomach lurched.

We aren't going anywhere.

Muffled sounds caught her attention.

A shadowy shape jumped from the first canoe. Someone with a long ponytail and sharp nose.

Hawk.

"Just bring your day bags," he said. "Leave the rest of the gear."

She turned to Jake's shadow. "Is it safe to walk in here?"

"I don't think we have a choice."

After making slow and careful progress through the winding tunnel, the blue light brightened.